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Clemens Sisters #1
The Price of Desire
Caroline Clemens comes to a scandalous arrangement with Dominic Savage. Penniless and responsible for four younger siblings following the death of their debt-ridden father, she agrees to become the willing plaything of this darkly dangerous man who has saved her family from the workhouse—and in repayment, she will fulfill his every physical need. . . eagerly and without hesitation.
Rather than feel shamed by her long fall from innocence, Caroline finds her new life exhilarating—for Savage is a remarkably skilled lover who knows the secret places to enter, taste, and touch that will drive a woman to new heights of ecstasy. He would never falsely promise her a wedding—unlike her faithless fiancé, who betrayed, insulted, and abandoned her. And she will repay his honesty with night after torrid night of delicious erotic games, taking their passion further than either of them ever dreamed possible.
But Dominic will not be satisfied with owning Caroline's ripe and luscious body, for he secretly desires the one thing that she dares not surrender to him. Dominic wants Caroline's heart. . . and he will not rest until she succumbs.
Rather than feel shamed by her long fall from innocence, Caroline finds her new life exhilarating—for Savage is a remarkably skilled lover who knows the secret places to enter, taste, and touch that will drive a woman to new heights of ecstasy. He would never falsely promise her a wedding—unlike her faithless fiancé, who betrayed, insulted, and abandoned her. And she will repay his honesty with night after torrid night of delicious erotic games, taking their passion further than either of them ever dreamed possible.
But Dominic will not be satisfied with owning Caroline's ripe and luscious body, for he secretly desires the one thing that she dares not surrender to him. Dominic wants Caroline's heart. . . and he will not rest until she succumbs.
288 pages, Paperback
Published January 30, 2007
18 people are currently reading
608 people want to read
About the author
Leda Swann
27 books41 followersLeda Swann is the writing duet of Cathy and Brent. We write out of our home overlooking the sea in peaceful New Zealand. When not writing we have busy lives bringing up four children and enjoying an adventurous outdoor life that ranges from the mountains to the sea.
We often get asked how our name Leda Swann came about. When we decided to write an erotic romance together we wanted a sexy name. We discussed how the Greek gods made for themselves a pretty good time of things, so a name from Greek mythology would be good. In any case, the word erotic comes from the Greek 'erotikos' and 'eros', meaning sexual love. We just needed to find a name that was more or less easily pronounceable. The tale of Leda and the Swan came to mind, and so Leda Swann was born.
We often get asked how our name Leda Swann came about. When we decided to write an erotic romance together we wanted a sexy name. We discussed how the Greek gods made for themselves a pretty good time of things, so a name from Greek mythology would be good. In any case, the word erotic comes from the Greek 'erotikos' and 'eros', meaning sexual love. We just needed to find a name that was more or less easily pronounceable. The tale of Leda and the Swan came to mind, and so Leda Swann was born.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 16, 2008
Um, well, uh, euh, ya, hmm, oufff, ok, soooo ---I can’t write a review for this book, but dammit was it ever good :D Anyone see the Kubrick flick “Eyes Wide Shut”? Ya, well take out the weirdness and you have the inspiration for some of this book (!) I never thought that they had swingers back in those days —whooooa 8-) This is an erotic historical at its finest with an absolutely beautiful ending:D I’m relocating to the North Pole now (!)
**pm me and I’ll happily give you tons and tons of blush-worthy spoilers (good god the visuals in this book!!!)
**pm me and I’ll happily give you tons and tons of blush-worthy spoilers (good god the visuals in this book!!!)
January 1, 2012
2.5 stars. I lost all respect tor the heroine from the beginning of the book when she turned into a mass murderer and tried to kill her family and then herself so that they wouldn't have to end up in the workhouse ( not kidding). I kept on reading because the heroine mistress theme is my favorite theme and its pretty hard to come by, but yea this was kind of a crazy book. Too much sex that wasn't really sexy to me, and only made the hero come off as some kind of perv, and the characters weren't even really developed properly.
The one good thing about this book was it started to get interesting towards the ending, but then the author had to ruin it by making the ending so abrupt that I dissolved into a fit of laughter at how stupid it was. I actually read the whole book though so that should count for something. Then again, I didn't have to pay for it because it was a library borrowed ebook, thank goodness! Read at your own risk.
The one good thing about this book was it started to get interesting towards the ending, but then the author had to ruin it by making the ending so abrupt that I dissolved into a fit of laughter at how stupid it was. I actually read the whole book though so that should count for something. Then again, I didn't have to pay for it because it was a library borrowed ebook, thank goodness! Read at your own risk.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2009
I loved this book...loved it! I have to admit that with these romance/erotic novels, I often lose patience with the plots and sometimes just skip to the "good stuff"; and too often, I even get bored with that. This book I read from beginning to end. A lot spicier than a romance novel...but has more heart and soul than a porn novel.
I've read a few Leda Swann books since this one...but none of them have lived up to this one.
I've read a few Leda Swann books since this one...but none of them have lived up to this one.
June 20, 2012
When Caroline's father, Isaac Clemens, kills himself after losing all his money on the stock exchange, he leaves his five children penniless orphans. With their house and all their possessions up for auction to cover his debts, Caroline has few choices. She had kept faith in her suitor, Captain Bellamy, that he would still marry her and thus save her and her siblings - Emily, Louisa, Beatrice, Dorothea and Teddy - but his new proposal makes her feelings for him sour. He tells her he must marry for money, and has his sights set on Kitty Earnshaw, but that he'll give her two hundred pounds a year to live in a little cottage and be his mistress instead.
Her hopes of saving her family dashed, Caroline knows she must take them all to the workhouse, a place that might just kill them, or put an end to things herself. She knows where her father's gun is, and there should hopefully be enough bullets left for Isaac's children too - if she has the courage to do it. With this plan in mind, there is only one regret: she would have liked to have known what it feels like to be with a man.
Dominic Savage is a man used to pursuing his pleasures. Recently arrived in England from India, Caroline Clemens has caught his eye. Believing her to be Isaac's widow, he feels no compunction seducing her in the conservatory of their host's house the same evening Captain Bellamy showed his true colours, and Caroline, her new conviction fresh in her heart, eagerly responds.
One encounter merely whets his appetite for young Caroline, but after that party he can't find her again. Caroline, after failing to follow through with her plan to save her siblings and herself from a life of destitution or worse, has taken them, on foot across country, to the workhouse. They are allowed in for the week, at the end of which time the board of governors will meet and decide whether they can stay. Grateful for somewhere to sleep and something to eat, the Clemens children are split up and put to work.
One week is all it takes to diminish their spirits considerably. After hearing that the board has refused them admittance and they must leave, they are rescued by Dominic who, having finally found Caroline, offers her a proposal not unlike Captain Bellamy's, but one which is imminently preferable: to be his mistress for five hundred pounds a year, and his help in procuring employment, apprenticeships or schooling for her siblings. With her sisters and brother taken care of, Caroline puts all her willing energy into pleasing Dominic - and learning about the arts of pleasure for her own sake.
But she knows her place: she is only a mistress, and he will soon grow tired of her - or, as an investor, he may lose all his money just like her father did and be unable to keep her. She must protect her heart against him, be a professional, and learn all she can from him. If only it were that simple.
This is the first book I've read by Kiwi husband-and-wife team Brent and Cathy, who use the pen name Leda Swann (as in, Leda and the Swan, the story of Zeus disguising himself as a swan to seduce Leda). It is similar in style and setting and plot to the works of Jess Michaels, but not as long and intense as Charlotte Featherstone's historicals. It's a short, fast read that has some excellent detail - for instance, the Clemens children's trek to the workhouse and their stay there - but is also light on description with a focus on building chemistry between the main characters and moving their relationship along. As such, it works very well. I tend to be one of those readers who loves detail and taking the time to really flesh things out, so while a zippy story is fun and you get your "instant gratification" from a book read so fast, I was left with the feeling of having held something insubstantial in my hands.
I liked the main characters, Caroline and Dominic, a lot. Caroline is strong and independent and never annoying or foolish or dramatic. She was a woman I felt like I could be friends with, so it was easy to care for her. She takes her future in her own hands and never suffers from guilt or shame at her new occupation or the pleasure she derives from it. She's generous, kind, calm, level-headed and confident, and stays true to her character.
Dominic was a bit messier. When we first meet him, at the party, he's very much like a dark, brooding historical romance hero, with the air of a rogue and the captivating eyes. But that first impression disappears fairly soon and we meet a different kind of Dominic, one who's actually quite ordinary - as far as historical romance heroes go. I'm not saying this as a complaint, but I do like some consistency. I had to scramble to adjust my mental image of him and my understanding of his personality, his character. We learn little things about him - like that he had a wife in India whom he loved, but she died a few years before; that he is rich and successful and owns a lot of railway in England; and that he's had plenty of lovers in the past and cared for them all. But he remains a tad thin as a character.
The characters are held together by the sex scenes, of which there are quite a few (this being erotic romance), and while they have the plain language common to the sub-genre (no flowery nonsense, which I like), they're not what you would call risque or kinky. There's just a lot more of it, and it's not described in the language of metaphors and weird analogies (such language always makes me either want to giggle or snort derisively).
This was a well-written, well-researched story set in Victorian England, about a young woman who takes life into her own hands and lives it on her own terms - and enjoys doing it. For fans of authors like Jess Michaels, this is well worth reading.
Her hopes of saving her family dashed, Caroline knows she must take them all to the workhouse, a place that might just kill them, or put an end to things herself. She knows where her father's gun is, and there should hopefully be enough bullets left for Isaac's children too - if she has the courage to do it. With this plan in mind, there is only one regret: she would have liked to have known what it feels like to be with a man.
Dominic Savage is a man used to pursuing his pleasures. Recently arrived in England from India, Caroline Clemens has caught his eye. Believing her to be Isaac's widow, he feels no compunction seducing her in the conservatory of their host's house the same evening Captain Bellamy showed his true colours, and Caroline, her new conviction fresh in her heart, eagerly responds.
One encounter merely whets his appetite for young Caroline, but after that party he can't find her again. Caroline, after failing to follow through with her plan to save her siblings and herself from a life of destitution or worse, has taken them, on foot across country, to the workhouse. They are allowed in for the week, at the end of which time the board of governors will meet and decide whether they can stay. Grateful for somewhere to sleep and something to eat, the Clemens children are split up and put to work.
One week is all it takes to diminish their spirits considerably. After hearing that the board has refused them admittance and they must leave, they are rescued by Dominic who, having finally found Caroline, offers her a proposal not unlike Captain Bellamy's, but one which is imminently preferable: to be his mistress for five hundred pounds a year, and his help in procuring employment, apprenticeships or schooling for her siblings. With her sisters and brother taken care of, Caroline puts all her willing energy into pleasing Dominic - and learning about the arts of pleasure for her own sake.
But she knows her place: she is only a mistress, and he will soon grow tired of her - or, as an investor, he may lose all his money just like her father did and be unable to keep her. She must protect her heart against him, be a professional, and learn all she can from him. If only it were that simple.
This is the first book I've read by Kiwi husband-and-wife team Brent and Cathy, who use the pen name Leda Swann (as in, Leda and the Swan, the story of Zeus disguising himself as a swan to seduce Leda). It is similar in style and setting and plot to the works of Jess Michaels, but not as long and intense as Charlotte Featherstone's historicals. It's a short, fast read that has some excellent detail - for instance, the Clemens children's trek to the workhouse and their stay there - but is also light on description with a focus on building chemistry between the main characters and moving their relationship along. As such, it works very well. I tend to be one of those readers who loves detail and taking the time to really flesh things out, so while a zippy story is fun and you get your "instant gratification" from a book read so fast, I was left with the feeling of having held something insubstantial in my hands.
I liked the main characters, Caroline and Dominic, a lot. Caroline is strong and independent and never annoying or foolish or dramatic. She was a woman I felt like I could be friends with, so it was easy to care for her. She takes her future in her own hands and never suffers from guilt or shame at her new occupation or the pleasure she derives from it. She's generous, kind, calm, level-headed and confident, and stays true to her character.
Dominic was a bit messier. When we first meet him, at the party, he's very much like a dark, brooding historical romance hero, with the air of a rogue and the captivating eyes. But that first impression disappears fairly soon and we meet a different kind of Dominic, one who's actually quite ordinary - as far as historical romance heroes go. I'm not saying this as a complaint, but I do like some consistency. I had to scramble to adjust my mental image of him and my understanding of his personality, his character. We learn little things about him - like that he had a wife in India whom he loved, but she died a few years before; that he is rich and successful and owns a lot of railway in England; and that he's had plenty of lovers in the past and cared for them all. But he remains a tad thin as a character.
The characters are held together by the sex scenes, of which there are quite a few (this being erotic romance), and while they have the plain language common to the sub-genre (no flowery nonsense, which I like), they're not what you would call risque or kinky. There's just a lot more of it, and it's not described in the language of metaphors and weird analogies (such language always makes me either want to giggle or snort derisively).
This was a well-written, well-researched story set in Victorian England, about a young woman who takes life into her own hands and lives it on her own terms - and enjoys doing it. For fans of authors like Jess Michaels, this is well worth reading.
September 14, 2010
This was my first Leda Swann book to download. I must say I really enjoyed this read. Ms. Swann did a wonderful job of creating an atmosphere of despair in the workhouse. She also built a world of lush emotions and hot sex. The relationship between the heroine and her siblings was heart-felt and touching. The hero was strong and sexy. The love-making scenes were steamy and fun. My only objection was the word "pleasure". Ms. Swann over-used the word and it was distracting for me at times. Overall, the book was a erotic read that has sparked my interest to download more of her books.
May 11, 2016
The heroine within the first few chapters, in despair over her financial situation attempts to kill her family then herself but fails as she can't do it to a younger sibling. Personally, I would have a hard enough time reading and getting past that in a serious novel let alone some historical erotic romance fluff I bought on a whim for a bit of fun reading. I felt like this was not my cup of tea.
February 20, 2009
The other book I’ve read by Leda Swann got a single-star rating, but this one, surprisingly, gets a bit of a step up with two stars. This was a full-length novel, whereas the last book was a set of three shorter stories. I think the author does better in the longer format, but not greatly so. The characters were a little more defined, there was a little more depth to their background, etc, but I still didn’t get the feeling that I was really getting to know them. I didn’t feel attached to them, almost to the point of indifference. The sex scenes were still rather crude, but not horribly so. The plot was pretty predictable, and the ending even more so. I think it should have been made more obvious that the hero and heroine were falling in love instead of just in rut. The ending was just a little too easy, like a last minute quick-fix. In all, the book wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t great either. At best, it was vaguely sweet, but in the end, unremarkable.
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October 13, 2011
I didn't like Caroline or Dominic in the beginning of the book. I didnt like them by the end of the book either.
Especially Caroline, maybe, for the fact that she wanted to kill all her siblings because she didn't see a way out. Really?!!
I did not like Dominic because according to him Caroline was "accommodating,eager to please and obedient" (p218)What was not to like and love?
There was no growth of character or much in the way of feelings. I did not enjoy the book. Just was annoyed with both of them and couldn't help rolling my eyes at some scenes.
The love making scenes were nothing to get excited about. They tried being risque with the Sugar and Spice (how creative!)house but the whole thing just disgusted me. Not because of what goes on there but because of the thought processes that Dominic goes through while he is there. The house just seemed out of place and unneeded. I could have done with out it.
Anyways, I would not recommend this book.
Especially Caroline, maybe, for the fact that she wanted to kill all her siblings because she didn't see a way out. Really?!!
I did not like Dominic because according to him Caroline was "accommodating,eager to please and obedient" (p218)What was not to like and love?
There was no growth of character or much in the way of feelings. I did not enjoy the book. Just was annoyed with both of them and couldn't help rolling my eyes at some scenes.
The love making scenes were nothing to get excited about. They tried being risque with the Sugar and Spice (how creative!)house but the whole thing just disgusted me. Not because of what goes on there but because of the thought processes that Dominic goes through while he is there. The house just seemed out of place and unneeded. I could have done with out it.
Anyways, I would not recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2011
This book disgusted me on a few levels. I only ordered it because I enjoyed The Mistress by Leda Swann (and love all of Jess Michaels novels.) But I found a good part of this book very distasteful. I wish I had known beforehand that a good part of this book took place at "Sugar and Spice." Also, because I had already read The Mistress, the ending was spoiled, as I already knew it from the other book.
June 26, 2007
This was a smutty book with a good story. ;)
It made me think about what I would be willing to do if I were in the worst possible money situaution, and had a family to take care of...
Plus it was smutty and who can pass that up in a book.
It made me think about what I would be willing to do if I were in the worst possible money situaution, and had a family to take care of...
Plus it was smutty and who can pass that up in a book.
April 7, 2024
I was looking for something that had both great smut scenes and a great plot. This had neither. So much scene jumping, little development of the characters so you don’t really care about them and an abrupt ending.
October 10, 2013
i really enjoy this book.
July 14, 2019
silly
Read
January 1, 2023Dnf
February 26, 2026
I personally really liked it, I did feel it was kinda silly because he literally could have just asked for her hand in marriage instead of degrading her own name to society. Not the best time piece romance I’ve read structure wise but the story was dark and I did really appreciate that. I liked that whole their relationship was s@xual in nature there was a bit of getting to know each others lives and it wasn’t just “oh your hot” “oh your hot” “lets get married even though we know nothing about each other” this one I feel even if they got married right away would have been good because he already wanted to help her under the circumstances of her and her siblings needing help but also because he wanted her. I enjoyed it and I think at the end of the day I had a hard time putting it down which gives it points for me.
August 21, 2019
To hard to describe, so many great things
This is truly my kind of erotic historical romance. The sex was off the pages with explicit sizzling details and I felt it all. What a great writing duo. I read Mistress first, but it can not even come close to this story. I can not wait to read more. I am in a 163 member book club and will be adamantly pushing forward for this book to be considered in our next reading. Thank you guys, keep em coming.
This is truly my kind of erotic historical romance. The sex was off the pages with explicit sizzling details and I felt it all. What a great writing duo. I read Mistress first, but it can not even come close to this story. I can not wait to read more. I am in a 163 member book club and will be adamantly pushing forward for this book to be considered in our next reading. Thank you guys, keep em coming.
June 17, 2018
Well written; erotic yet believable--a rare combination.
February 27, 2020
the story is todays reality
June 1, 2021
I was shocked! With cover like that I excepted nothing but sex . I glad there is an intriguing story.
I reccomend giving it a chance!
I reccomend giving it a chance!
September 19, 2022
I usually don’t read porn and this book was horny as hell but I finished it in one sitting LMAO
September 15, 2025
3.5 interesting, but I wanted more information on the characters. more build up, more story to their love.
December 5, 2011
Hmm may need another shelf for this one as its my first foray into erotic fiction, I know how can I go from my first Christian novel to this smutty tale of love and lust, but its just my nature to read EVERYTHING I can get my hands on that comes recommended, I love to know what others read in my quest to read it all..This short and sexy novel was recommended by a male librarian friend that obviously doesnt know I'm engaged LOL. But after curiousity got the best of me I took the time and must say despite the in your face sex it was still a pretty good read overall...So okay this is the story of nineteen year old Caroline, a pampered rich girl with everything going for her--great family, high class friends, expensive clothes and a Captain bethrothed to marry her, just loving life..that is until her father goes bankrupt and unable to deal with life as a pauper takes out his gun and shoots himself in the head..With her father disgraced and all their money gone Caroline is devastated and now in charge of her household. As if this is not stressful and tragic enough at a hoity toity high society party she finds out her Captain fiance has no plans on marrying a poor laughingstock's daughter and definitely without her generous dowry--he leaves her high and dry with an insulting offer to be his mistress. Heartbroken, foolishly and dramatically distraught Caroline resolves to kill herself just like her father as well as her brother and sisters in her distorted attempt to save them and spare them the humiliation of a life of poverty ahead..She doggedly makes up her mind to do the evil deed and kill them all and surprisingly only has one regret... that she will die a virgin. Life has other plans for her it seems as the handsome, rich man Dominick that was eyeing her all night appears when she is alone, vulnerable and ready to do whatever. He has ruthless, passionate sex with her there at this fancy shindig and becomes infactuated..Okay so this is where a pause should be as these sex scenes are out of this world..This is a deliciously nasty novel and no detail on lovemaking is spared..the book goes hard. There are no delicate phrasings and the words "cock" and "pussy" are used enough to make you blush.. so definitely not for the faint of heart however the story of Caroline and Dominick, Caroline's family and the journey they embark on learning about each other mind, body and soul are enough to make this a good story, not just vulgar sex (though there is some of that too;) I was surprised by this novel as it was actually a great historical romance that really could have been fleshed out by going into the lives of the sisters and brother Teddy and Dominick's past but was kept short and sweet at less that three hundred pages..I was intrigued, stimulated and entertained by this novel and respect it even more when I found out that Leda Swann is actually a married couple that from their author shots look just as normal and calm as can be but really let out their sensual side..Its a book everyone in a sexual relationship should read as it was educational as well...Enjoy and dont let anyone read over your shoulder--there are some shocking chapters:0
December 31, 2025
CWs for:
- plan of sibling mass murder due to financial distress, incl murdering a child
- suicide and plans of one
- s3xual coercion and possession, poverty porn
In this, an indepted patriarch brings destitution to his family by his act of suicide what must be at the start of 19th century, and due to this, his oldest daughter's engagement is broken off and she is ostracized by and shunned from respectable circles, which leaves her six siblings bereft, homeless and on their way to a workhouse. She ponders her own suicide and murdering all her siblings due to the prospect of the workhouse, planning to start off with the youngest child but as he happens to wake up during the incident from sleep, it is called off with none hurt. So, an aborted mass murder featured in this one...
... and poverty porn. Because oddly enough, what could have been a passable plot for a dickensian drama retelling, is somehow turned into a ridiculously steamy and fluffy novel instead, s3xualising the female main character's misery and despair. This apparently enables to utilise the family's fall from grace as a plot device turning the tragedy into heat and selling this story as sensually suspenseful.
One second, you have the main characters (the oldest daughter, Caroline and her admirer, some exotic looking aristocrat called Dominic who appears to be addicted to her) being oh so sillily frustrated with feeling of some all-consuming lust and attemps to capture one another, and the other second, a child's potential murder plan is being toyed with in passing.
Furthermore, the story includes coercion, possession, dominance and due to destititution, has issues with freely given consent. Dominic becomes seemingly this shining knight in armour, the savior of the siblings but this is in fact in exchange of Caroline's s3xual favours, which happens to be exactly what was offered already before by another man who broke off the engagement with Caroline.
While I might give credit to what could have potentially been somewhat historical accuracy in terms of portrayal of the kind of bad and worse choices available to young women who fell to poverty at the time, the fluff and pining added to that seems completely out of place. Also, the vocabulary and notions around intimacy do not fit the time period but reflect modern sensibilities.
Quit at around middle of the book but started to skim earlier. The kind of devices utilised to convey this story seemed to me distasteful and unseasonable in a romance novel.
- plan of sibling mass murder due to financial distress, incl murdering a child
- suicide and plans of one
- s3xual coercion and possession, poverty porn
In this, an indepted patriarch brings destitution to his family by his act of suicide what must be at the start of 19th century, and due to this, his oldest daughter's engagement is broken off and she is ostracized by and shunned from respectable circles, which leaves her six siblings bereft, homeless and on their way to a workhouse. She ponders her own suicide and murdering all her siblings due to the prospect of the workhouse, planning to start off with the youngest child but as he happens to wake up during the incident from sleep, it is called off with none hurt. So, an aborted mass murder featured in this one...
... and poverty porn. Because oddly enough, what could have been a passable plot for a dickensian drama retelling, is somehow turned into a ridiculously steamy and fluffy novel instead, s3xualising the female main character's misery and despair. This apparently enables to utilise the family's fall from grace as a plot device turning the tragedy into heat and selling this story as sensually suspenseful.
One second, you have the main characters (the oldest daughter, Caroline and her admirer, some exotic looking aristocrat called Dominic who appears to be addicted to her) being oh so sillily frustrated with feeling of some all-consuming lust and attemps to capture one another, and the other second, a child's potential murder plan is being toyed with in passing.
Furthermore, the story includes coercion, possession, dominance and due to destititution, has issues with freely given consent. Dominic becomes seemingly this shining knight in armour, the savior of the siblings but this is in fact in exchange of Caroline's s3xual favours, which happens to be exactly what was offered already before by another man who broke off the engagement with Caroline.
While I might give credit to what could have potentially been somewhat historical accuracy in terms of portrayal of the kind of bad and worse choices available to young women who fell to poverty at the time, the fluff and pining added to that seems completely out of place. Also, the vocabulary and notions around intimacy do not fit the time period but reflect modern sensibilities.
Quit at around middle of the book but started to skim earlier. The kind of devices utilised to convey this story seemed to me distasteful and unseasonable in a romance novel.
April 18, 2016
Tout le monde le sait, la mode actuelle est de faire des romans érotiques, pour ne pas dire des livres pornos pour femme (et je dis ça en étant plutôt amatrice du genre). Donc, depuis quelques mois, J’ai Lu a décidé d’adapter ce concept de marketing à la collection Aventures & Passions avec ses romans Aventures & Passions – Sensualité (ce n’est pas comme si la collection Passion Intense existait déjà…). La curiosité étant un vilain défaut, j’ai profité du challenge du mois de janvier pour voir ce que ça donnait (comme ça, j’aurai lu des livres de styles différents J). Et pour être franche, je ne sais pas quoi penser de ce livre.
C’est quand je me suis rendue compte que je sautais une page sur deux dans les parties ‘chaudes’, que je me suis dit que je commençais vraiment à me lasser de ce genre. L’érotique, c’est comme tout, quand il y en a trop il y a un moment ça lasse…
Si c’est bien écrit, ça passe comme une lettre à la Poste, si le livre est bof, ça devient ennuyant.
Et c’est bien le problème ici…
L’histoire, c’est celle de l’aînée d’une fratrie de 6 (dont 5 filles)(le pov’ père !), dont la m��re est morte à la naissance du petit dernier et le père banquier vient de se suicider après avoir tout perdu, les laissant tous dans le dénuement le
plus complet. Sauf que voilà, on est dans la bonne société de Londres du XIXème, et le suicide est encore plus tabou que le dénuement… Autant dire que le seul qui va venir en aide à la petite famille c’est le héros (tout droit arrivé d’Inde et qui ne connait rien à la vie londonienne).
C’est du vu, du revu, du réchauffé, on sait très bien ce qu’il va se passer, et « l’érotique » (le cul, quoi !) n’apporte rien de plus. Quant à la fin, je me suis demandé pendant une bonne minute s’il ne manquait pas de pages dans mon livre. Pour faire un mauvais jeu de mot, je dirai que je suis restée sur mafaim fin (ok, je sors ^^)
Pour résumer, ce n’est pas un mauvais bouquin, mais il n’a rien non plus de transcendant. Je lirai cependant un autre livre de la série, déjà pour voir ce qu’il arrive aux autres sœurs, mais aussi si cela est juste du au livre, à l’histoire, ou à l’auteur.
Et je donne à celui-ci un moyen ❤❤,5/5
C’est quand je me suis rendue compte que je sautais une page sur deux dans les parties ‘chaudes’, que je me suis dit que je commençais vraiment à me lasser de ce genre. L’érotique, c’est comme tout, quand il y en a trop il y a un moment ça lasse…
Si c’est bien écrit, ça passe comme une lettre à la Poste, si le livre est bof, ça devient ennuyant.
Et c’est bien le problème ici…
L’histoire, c’est celle de l’aînée d’une fratrie de 6 (dont 5 filles)(le pov’ père !), dont la m��re est morte à la naissance du petit dernier et le père banquier vient de se suicider après avoir tout perdu, les laissant tous dans le dénuement le
plus complet. Sauf que voilà, on est dans la bonne société de Londres du XIXème, et le suicide est encore plus tabou que le dénuement… Autant dire que le seul qui va venir en aide à la petite famille c’est le héros (tout droit arrivé d’Inde et qui ne connait rien à la vie londonienne).
C’est du vu, du revu, du réchauffé, on sait très bien ce qu’il va se passer, et « l’érotique » (le cul, quoi !) n’apporte rien de plus. Quant à la fin, je me suis demandé pendant une bonne minute s’il ne manquait pas de pages dans mon livre. Pour faire un mauvais jeu de mot, je dirai que je suis restée sur ma
Pour résumer, ce n’est pas un mauvais bouquin, mais il n’a rien non plus de transcendant. Je lirai cependant un autre livre de la série, déjà pour voir ce qu’il arrive aux autres sœurs, mais aussi si cela est juste du au livre, à l’histoire, ou à l’auteur.
Et je donne à celui-ci un moyen ❤❤,5/5
January 19, 2013
Out of 5 star:
Overall:3
Romance: 3
Sensuality: 4
Sex: 4
Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Secondary Characters: 3
Likely hood of reading the rest of the series: 3
It was a decent erotic historical romance. I liked the main characters. They were both believable and understandable.
I just didn't like the ending. It was two abrupt and I felt like there true feelings were never properly reveled or explained. I needed more of an emotional revelation between the two of them. Where they talked with each other about what they felt and why they did certain things. It was just suddenly over with no real emotional conclusion. It's why I could only give it three stars.
Also Dominic's past is never really explained. Like what happened to his wife? It was just lacking is explanations for a lot of things.
If you are just looking for a book that has explicit sex and delicious dirty talk (including the C word) this is not a bad choice. But don't expect much to be explained beyond the sex.
Overall:3
Romance: 3
Sensuality: 4
Sex: 4
Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Secondary Characters: 3
Likely hood of reading the rest of the series: 3
It was a decent erotic historical romance. I liked the main characters. They were both believable and understandable.
I just didn't like the ending. It was two abrupt and I felt like there true feelings were never properly reveled or explained. I needed more of an emotional revelation between the two of them. Where they talked with each other about what they felt and why they did certain things. It was just suddenly over with no real emotional conclusion. It's why I could only give it three stars.
Also Dominic's past is never really explained. Like what happened to his wife? It was just lacking is explanations for a lot of things.
If you are just looking for a book that has explicit sex and delicious dirty talk (including the C word) this is not a bad choice. But don't expect much to be explained beyond the sex.
August 30, 2014
The Price of Desire is about a young woman faced with the responsibility of providing for her siblings after the death/suicide of her father.
Caroline Clemens has led a sheltered plush life with the love and affection from her father and siblings. She has been promised to a well-to-do man in the community whom she believes she cares for. It is not until her father bankrupts the family and commits suicide that she learns that fate of her new life. Her engagement is called off, her house is taken away and she and her siblings have no food or shelter.
Penniless and desperate Caroline enters into a risky arrangement with attractive and wealthy businessman Dominic Savage- be his mistress and he will take care of her family.
This was a story of an innocent yet curious young woman who makes the choice to not only share her body but open her heart.
Caroline Clemens has led a sheltered plush life with the love and affection from her father and siblings. She has been promised to a well-to-do man in the community whom she believes she cares for. It is not until her father bankrupts the family and commits suicide that she learns that fate of her new life. Her engagement is called off, her house is taken away and she and her siblings have no food or shelter.
Penniless and desperate Caroline enters into a risky arrangement with attractive and wealthy businessman Dominic Savage- be his mistress and he will take care of her family.
This was a story of an innocent yet curious young woman who makes the choice to not only share her body but open her heart.
August 15, 2012
The story went well, thank God. I could never handle another tragedy to happen to the family in that magnitude. Desperation could indeed drive someone into thinking the impossible. I love how Caroline took the responsibility head on. It was admirable how she swallowed her pride to keep her family together and keep them out of poverty, securing their futures even it would mean that her future would be bleak.
November 25, 2013
**Actual Rating**: 3 stars
**Book Format**: eBook
Despite the unhistorical cover and synopsis, this book was similar to many other erotic historical romances out there. Of course, there was the weird concept of the 'Sugar and Spice' sex-related place, and the weird sexual positions apparently from India, but ignoring all that weirdness, this was a pretty sweet book. Thank goodness for love:)
**Book Format**: eBook
Despite the unhistorical cover and synopsis, this book was similar to many other erotic historical romances out there. Of course, there was the weird concept of the 'Sugar and Spice' sex-related place, and the weird sexual positions apparently from India, but ignoring all that weirdness, this was a pretty sweet book. Thank goodness for love:)
January 17, 2016
My least favorite of the series. The "heroine" of the story makes a horrible decision at the beginning of the book and I just couldn't sympathize with her from that point on. Plus the whole love story just fell flat and ended rather abruptly. This was the first in a series and if I'd read them in order I probably wouldn't have continued.
August 20, 2007
This was pretty much porn that you can get at the library, what's not to like about that?!? It's reminiscent of Under the Rooftops of Paris by Henry Miller. Not quite as hardcore as that, but pretty close.
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